Prefabricated fence



March 8, 1966 F iled Jan. 11, 1963 R. M. PIKE 3,239,194

PREFABRICATED FENCE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 Fig. 2 26 30 Fig. 3

Fig. 5 Si Rafael M. Pike 1N VEN TOR,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 444 '1 I Ema -9 Rafael M. Pike INVENTOK.

Mrzw March 8, 1966 R. M. PIKE PREFABRICATED FENCE Filed Jan. 11 1963 March 8, 1966 R. M. PIKE 3,239,194

PREFABRICATED FENCE Filed Jan. 11, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Rafael M. Pi/re IN VENTOR.

March 8, 1966 R. M. PIKE 3,239,194

PREFABRICATED FENCE Filed Jan. 11 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Rafael M. Pike INVENTOR.

United States Patent f 3,239,194 PREFABRICATED FENCE Rafael M. Pike, National City, Calif., assignor of thirtyfive percent to David Allen Ytreus, San Diego, Calif. Filed Jan. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 250,923 1 Claim. (Cl. 256-19) The present invention generally relates to fences, and more particularly to a plurality of units or components which are specifically designed so as to cooperate with each other in the formation of a plurality of different types of fences.

In the fencing of residential property it is frequently desired to provide a fence which is both attractive and distinctive as compared to the fences of the surrounding property, however, because of the generally greater expense involved in designing and building a fence other than the standard types commercially available, the home owner must, in many instances, settle for one of the less than satisfactory stereotype fences.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an alternative to the necessity of having to choose between an expensive individualistic fence and an inexpensive stereotype fence, this being accomplished by providing a construction group or kit consisting of a plurality of individual fence units or components which can, even by the home owner himself, be combined so as to produce any one of a large range of distinctly different types of fences. By providing that the various specifically shaped components be prefabricated, the cost of any fence constructed from these components would be minor as compared to the necessity of having to custom build the fence.

In conjunction with the above object it is also an object of the present invention to provide that the different types of fence units or components be relatively few in number while at the same time being capable of assembly in a maximum amount of different arrangements.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of components which are relatively easy to assemble by the use of conventional means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one of the types of components, the elongated straight rails;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of another type of component, the angle pieces;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of another type of component, the rectangular frames;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating further types of components, the base blocks and the Wedges;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating the final types of components, isosceles triangle-shaped panels;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one manner in which a masonry foundation and corner post can be provided for the prefabricated fence;

FIGURE 7 is a partial elevational view illustrating one preferred arrangement of the components illustrated in FIGURES 1-5;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating a further arrangement of the components;

FIGURE 9 illustrates a third arrangement of the components;

FIGURE 10 illustrates yet another arrangement of the various different ones which can be achieved by the use of the components shown in FIGURES 1-5;

FIGURE 11 is a partial cross-sectional view taken sub- 3,239,l% Patented Mar. 8, 1966 stantially upon a plane passing along the line 11--11 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 12 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along the line 12--12 in FIGURE 10; I

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially upon the plane passing along the line 1313 in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along the line 14-44 in FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 15 is a partial rear elevational view of the foundation engaging portion of the fence illustrated in FIGURE 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, and with specific reference to FIGURES l-S wherein the fence components are illustrated, reference numeral 20 is used to designate the elongated straight rail having beveled faces 22 provided on the end thereof. The angle piece, indicated by the numeral 24 includes two arms 26 orientated at right angles to each other and having, at their free ends, 45 beveled end faces 28. The rectangular frame type unit is designated by reference numeral 30 and consists of four sides 32, these sides 32, as well as the arms 2% of the angle piece 24 being of a length equal to the length of the rail 20. The base block, indicated by the numeral 34, is in the form of an isosceles trapezoid having unequal length parallel top and bottom faces 36 and 3 8 and equal length non-parallel side faces 40. This block 34 also includes a right angular notch 42 through the top 36 at the center thereof. The wedge 44, also illustrated in FIGURE 4 is in the form of a right angle triangle and can, depending upon the material used and manner of forming the components, consist of a portion of the block 34 removed so as to form the notch 42, both the blocks 34 and the wedge 44 having vertical centrally located apertures 46 and 43 therethrough. The final types of components constituting the group of components from which the present invention contemplates the construction of a variety of fences consists of two different size panels 50 and 52, both in the form of isosceles triangles with the panels 50 having a wider base 54 and lower apex 56 than the panel 52.

With reference to FIGURES 715, it will be appreciated that various distinctive arrangements of the above described components are contemplated, these components, suitably arranged, being generally mounted upon a supporting foundation 58 having vertically extending anchor bolts 60 embedded therein. If so desired, bricks or tiles 62 can be laid in the outer upper portion of the foundation 58 with possibly a decorative lamp or endpost E4 also being provided in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6.

One specific arrangement of the components is illustrated in FIGURES 7, 11 and 13 wherein the blocks 34 are positioned at spaced points along the foundation 58 with the top side 36 facing upwardly for the reception of one corner of a rectangular frame 30 within the notch 42 in each block 34, the blocks 34 being spaced so as to orientate the horizontally directed corners of the frame 30 with the corners of the adjoining frames. The right angle triangularly shaped wedge 44, is received within the inner portion of the corner of the frame received within the notch 42, all three components having apertures therein and being positioned with the anchor bolt 60 extending through the apertures and with the components being tightly clamped by threading a nut 66 downwardly on the upper threaded portion of the rod 60 and into engagement with the top of the wedge 44.

Additionally rails 20 are positioned horizontally between the frames 30 and between the sides 32 of each frame 30 in a manner so as to abut the beveled faces 22 against the sides 32 for securement in any convenient manner thus not only resulting in an attractive appearing arrangement, but also functioning so as to rigidify the structure.

TWO of the panels 50 are also provided within each frame 30, these panels 50 being secured to the horizontally extending rails with the bases 54 being vertically orientated in facing spaced relationship to each other.

Two of the panels 52 are likewise secured to each frame 30, one of these panel-s being positioned with the base thereof located uppermost and horizontally, the panel 52 being centered on the uppermost corner of the frame 30. The other panel 52 is located upright with the base thereon flush on the foundation 58 in front of the block 34 thus acting so as to conceal the block 34, wedge 44 and anchor bolt 60, it being appreciated from FIGURE 7 that the sides of the isosceles triangle-shaped panel 52 extend upwardly from the base at the same angle that the sides 40 extend from the bottom face 38 of the block 34. I

The arrangement of components illustrated in FIG- URES 8 and 15, aside from being considered significant for the purpose of illustrating a further novel arrangement of the components, is also considered of importance because of the illustration therein of another manner of orientating the base block 34 and securing the remaining components thereto. The base block 34, in this fence construction, is inverted with the top face 36 horizontally orientated on the top of the foundation 58, the rectangular frames are orientated with the sides thereof extending horizontally and vertically, the lower horizontally extending side resting on the face 38 of the block 34 with both of these members being secured to the foundation 58 by the anchor bolt 60 and nut 66.

The angle pieces 24 are located in two generally horizontally extending rows with the upper row of angle pieces 24 having the corner thereof directed downwardly and with the lower row of angle pieces 24 having the corners orientated upwardly. These angle pieces 24 are positioned in front of the blocks 34 and frames 30 with the beveled faces 28 of the lower row of angle pieces 24 being positioned directly in front of the blocks 34, this arrangement illustrating the fact that the length of the face 36 of the block 34 is equal to twice the length of the beveled faces 28 with the angle between the beveled face 28 and the inner side of the adjoining arm 26 being the same as the angle between the top 36 and side 40 of the blocks 34. In the same manner in which the beveled faces 28 of the downwardly directed arms of the lower row of angle pieces 24 are juxtaposed so as to form a fiat continuous surface, the beveled faces 28 of the upwardly directed arms 26 of the upper row of angle pieces 24 are also arranged so as to present a fiat continuous surface.

Additionally, it will be noted that the components 20, and 52 are also appropriately used. Further, if so desired, a panel, either 50 or 52 can be utilized so as to conceal the portion of the fence where the anchor bolt is used to secure the fence to the foundation, this being done by positioning the panel against the forward portion of the adjacent arms 26 at this point substantially in the same manner as the panel 52 is positioned in FIGURE 7. In such an arrangement, it will be appreciated that the downwardly opening notch 42 performs an important function in preventing any accumulation of moisture which would otherwise be present in the pockets formed between the block 34 and panel, these components being spaced from each other by the width of the arms 26.

FIGURE 9 illustrates yet another form of the fence styles available by use of the components, this fence consisting basically of three overlapping horizontally extending rows of downwardly directed angle pieces 24 and one horizontally extending row of upwardly directed angle pieces 24, the downwardly directed corner of the angle pieces of one of the rows of downwardly directed angle pieces being received within notches 42 of the block 34 4 in much the same manner as the downwardly directed corners of the members 30 in FIGURES 7, 11 and 13.

The fence illustrated in FIGURES 10, 12 and 14, the last fence to be specifically described herein, provides for the orientation of the base block 34 with the top face 36 thereof orientated upwardly for the reception thereon of one of the sides 32 of a frame 30, both components being secured to the foundation 58 by the anchor bolt 60 and tightening nut 66. A row of frames 30 are received directly on the base blocks 34, with a second row of frames 30 being provided between the first mentioned frames 30 spaced slightly higher so as to project upwardly therebeyond, the second group of frames being fixedly secured to the first group of frames in a suitable manner with inverted panels 50 likewise being secured to and extending between adjacent ones of the first-mentioned frames 30. The base blocks 34 and anchor bolts 60 are suitably concealed behind panels 52, the concealment of the block 34 being complete because of the manner in which the angle of the sides 40 corresponds to the angle of the sides of the triangular panels 52.

While only four different arrangements of the components have been specifically described supra, it will be readily recognized that many more are available. Further, while no specific material has been set forth, it is preferred that the components be of either aluminum or wood, however, any other suitable material would, of course, fall within the scope of the present invention. Insofar as the securing of the various components together is concerned, the present invention contemplates the use of any conventional means such as welding, nailing or screwing depending upon the specific material used for the components.

From the foregoing, it is considered to be readily apparent that a novel invention has been defined, this invention consisting of a plurality of compatible fence components or units which can be combined in a variety of different ways so as to produce decorative and functional fences at a minimum cost thus greatly increasing the different types of fences within the range of those home owners who could previously only afford the relatively inexpensive mass produced commercially available fences. All of this is accomplished by the provision of a small number of specifically designed complementary types of components, these components, because of their versatility, allowing the stocking of fence parts which can, in various ways, be combined so as to form a fence meeting almost any requirement as to both appearance and function.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An elongate fence construction comprising a plurality of base blocks, each of said base blocks being in the form of an isosceles trapezoid having a fiat bottom, a pair of upwardly converging ends, and a fiat top of less length than said bottom, a right-angular notch being defined transversely across the center of the flat top of each block, said blocks being orientated in longitudinally aligned spaced relation to each other on a common surface and in a common vertical plane with the tops thereof being upwardly directed and with the notches therein being transversely orientated relative to the vertical plane, a fence element associated with each base block, each fence element including a pair of arms diverging relative to each other from a common right-angular juncture, said juncture being received within the right-angular notch of the corresponding base block with the associated arms being upwardly directed in the vertical plane of the base blocks, the outer end of each arm being located juxtaposed the outer end of an arm of an adjoining pair of arms so as to define a barrier therewith, and means fixing each element to its corresponding base block.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,049 4/1873 Sellers et al. 256-21 190,638 5/1877 Stein 256-21 276,539 4/1883 Reed 46-17 1,482,137 1/1924 Matthews 256-19 1,652,031 12/1927 Lutton 50-262 2,057,018 10/1936 Dillon 256-19 2,189,792 2/1940 Greulich 256-13.1 2,245,875 6/1941 Rutherford 46-16 2,776,116 1/1957 Brickman 25613.1

6 2,826,843 3/1958 Fabry 40-152 2,974,910 3/1961 Lynn 256-21 3,058,266 10/1962 Harvey 50-262 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,597 9/1926 Australia. 33,163 10/1928 France. 1,061,170 4/1954 France.

690,686 4/1953 Great Britain. 702,869 1/ 1954 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Craft Patterns publication, Apr. 10, 1955. The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, page 40.

15 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner. 

